Money, money, money

One of the most talked about subjects in the New Testament is money. 

According to an article on Preaching Today: "Jesus talked much about money. Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions."

I've often heard this question from young people about how to handle their money. So I think to start off, it's important to relook at our own perspective on money.

Take a read of this post from Kris Valloton, a Christian author and pastor from US.

There is so much resistance to prosperity in the Body of Christ. I am not sure why people demonize prosperity and spiritualize poverty because that is definitely NOT the Bible's prospective. In fact, the Bible often speaks of poverty as a byproduct of poor attitudes and behaviors.

First of all was Jesus poor? Well the answer is yes and no! The great apostle Paul explained it like this. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He (Jesus) was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich."

2 Corinthians 8:9

There are 3 things we can glean from this verse: 

1- Jesus was rich...I would suggest that He is again. 

2- Jesus became poor for a purpose. 

3- He became poor to make us rich. 

Many people are convinced that the rich or wealthy are the only people God warned or corrected in the Bible. But this is simply not true. Here are just a few of the many verses that address the evils of poverty. 

"How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest"- Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man."

Proverbs 6:9-11

"In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23

"Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline, but he who regards reproof will be honored."

Proverbs 13:18

"He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty."

Proverbs 28:19

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either."2 Thessalonians 3:10

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8

Ok there are many more but let's look at one more aspect of prosperity and poverty in the New Testament. 

Jesus told two parables (the parable of the talents and the parable of the minas) about how money and investment work in the kingdom. In both cases the servants that took the money their Lord gave them, (1 talents = $30,000 & 1 mina = $500) and made more money, were rewarded. In fact the 2 guys that did well with the minas were given authority over cities! 

Now this is where the story gets ugly...the guys in both stories who refused to take risks and invest their money but instead buried it, were called "wicked and lazy slaves!' But wait it gets even worse; their money was taken away from them and given to the guys who already had the most money. Simply put, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer, or at least that's the way it looked from the outside. Yet, from God prospective He wasn't trying to make the rich, richer, He was simply distributing His wealth to the people who would invest it wisely. But God also took His money away from the lazy and worthless servants, (His words not mine). (See Matthew 25 and Luke 19)

In other words, sometimes wealth and poverty are spiritual powers that empower or proactively disempower people depending on their attitude and effort toward money. 

How important is it that you have God's attitude towards money? Well I would say from the looks of it that your attitude is probably dictating your financial situation. 

Which servant do you relate to in the fore mentioned parables?  The answer could change your life! 

You can find the original article here: https://www.facebook.com/kvministries/posts/10154467818198741

Hopefully over the next few posts I would like us to consider the counsel we have in our life about wealth, money and possessions.